Juliet’s heart ached, even thinking about a different life; another path she might have taken. Just a few years ago, she’d been determined to avoid Beachwood Bay forever, block the painful memories from her mind and wipe the slate clean. It was chance that had led her back here, to the only man she’d ever truly loved, to mend both their hearts and forge a new future with him.

It could have easily been so different.

She could have never known the strength of this love—or the future they had awaiting them.

“But I did.” She took his hand and held it tightly. “I came back for you.”

Emerson didn’t let go as he drove them back down the dark country roads, but instead of turning off toward their beach house, he kept going, out through town.

“Where are we going?” Juliet asked sleepily, glancing out the window.

Emerson just gave a mysterious smile. “You’ll see.”

Juliet settled back in the seat, letting the comforting haze wrap around her. The year had flown by, a crazy and hectic time filled with opening the restaurant in the city and getting it on its feet. That place had been Emerson’s dream, and she was so proud to see it become a reality, a place they’d built together. She was taking more risks in her career too now: submitting her photographs to galleries and magazines. Every time she won another exhibition, however small, Emerson would grab a bottle of wine from the restaurant and take her up on the roof of their building, to toast and laugh and talk together until the morning came.

It was the kind of life she hadn’t dared dream of; a love that only grew deeper with every passing day. Juliet only wished her mom could see her now, and know the happiness she’d found.

And everything to come.

The truck came to a stop, breaking through her sleepy haze. “Where are we?” She looked around. They were alone on the pitch-black highway outside of town, pulled off to the side of the road.

“You don’t recognize it?” Emerson got out, and came around to lift her down from the truck. Juliet yawned, and looked again. He’d left the headlights on and the engine running, the bright lights illuminating the stretch of highway that ran along the shoreline; the waves crashing in the distance as they stood in the shadow of the sign that read Welcome to Beachwood Bay.

She shook her head. Emerson looked down with a private smile. “It’s where we first met. Remember, you ran me off the road that summer, six years ago.”

Juliet’s heart leapt at the memory. “First of all, you were the one going way too fast,” she corrected him, smiling. “And second, I wasn’t even driving!”

“But you crashed me, all the same.” Emerson paced a few feet away. “I was standing right here,” he said, planting himself in the spot. “I can remember everything. You looked at me, and I knew, nothing would ever be the same.”

Juliet felt tears well up in her throat, but before she could say anything, Emerson went back to the truck, and turned the stereo up. An old song was playing, she recognized. Time After Time.

Emerson returned, and held out his hand to her. His eyes met hers in the darkness, full of love. “Dance with me.”

Juliet went to him. As his arms slipped around her, Emerson felt it all over again: the shock of recognition that had crashed over him that very first day.

This girl. This life.

This love.

He held her close, feeling the warmth of her body, and every breath she took. He hadn’t known it then, how she would come to define his life; his every choice. Whether he was trying—and failing—to forget her, or falling even more deeply in love, Juliet had always been his Northern Star, his guiding force.

The one light on the dark horizon he could trust to carry him home.

They danced on the dark highway together, two bodies so close it was as if they were one. Emerson cradled her to him, and thanked every star in the midnight sky that they belonged to each other. He would have held her forever, but the song came to an end, and he remembered something else.

“I forgot.” He pulled away, smiling. “I got us a party favor.” He went to the truck and retrieved a bottle of champagne and two glasses. “How about a toast?” he asked Juliet, levering the cork out with a pop.

But Juliet paused, and shook her head. A curious smile was playing on her lips. “I can’t,” she said.

“What do you mean?” Emerson asked, distracted by the froth of bubbles spilling out over his hands.

“I mean, I can’t,” Juliet said again.

Emerson looked up as her words finally sunk in—and the happiness glowing in her eyes.

The knowledge hit him like a meteor. A supernova in the night’s sky.

Their love was bigger than just the two of them now.

“You mean…?” he moved closer, barely able to find the words.

Juliet nodded. She bit her lip, looking nervous for a moment. “I took the test this morning, I wanted to tell you, but with the wedding stuff, there wasn’t a moment alone.” She paused. “Is it…OK?”

Emerson couldn’t believe she would even ask. “Yes, it’s OK. It’s incredible!” He set down the bottle and picked her up in one motion, swinging her around as his heart raced. He could see them now; the family he’d secretly wanted ever since Juliet had come back into his life. He hadn’t let himself dream, but here it was, finally coming true.

Juliet shrieked with laughter, clinging to him until he set her down. She searched his face, but found nothing but joy. “We’re going to be a family,” she said, unable to keep the tears from falling.